Women Make Legal Profession Gains at ‘Glacial Pace,’ Survey Says

Women, and particularly women of color, are gaining representation in the legal profession at a “glacial pace,” according to a report by the National Association of Women Lawyers.

Women make up 21% of Big Law equity partner ranks, the annual report found. Of those, 86% are white and 14% are minorities.

The fiscal 2019 figures show little improvement since the association began collecting data in 2005, when women made up about 15% of equity partnership ranks, said Karen M. Richardson, the group’s executive director.

“It’s been more than a dozen years to see a five-plus percentage point change,” she said. ...